Katz.uci-750a%Rand-Relay@sri-unix.UUCP (10/31/83)
In addition to a location near the equator and out of the way of major storms, there are several other considerations in the location of a space elevator. The elevator must be located away from local residents who would be disrupted by the atmospheric disturbances. The elevator must be accessable to transportation. The elevator system must be protected from both failure and terrorism. The best locations are probably small islands near the equator, just to the east of a large land mass. The land mass will sheild the islands from major storms, and the sea will shield the elevator from people. If it is close enough to the land mass (e.g. within coastal waters) it will be accessible to transportation. As for tourism, the best view of the elevator (in good weather) will probably be from a slight rise about 5 to 10 kilometers away. There are also great security and reliability advantages to construction of several elevators, not just one.